The air inside your home can greatly affect your health and well-being. If you have a furnace or an air conditioner, it is important to keep them running at their peak efficiency. In this blog post we will outline 10 steps that will help you boost the quality of the air indoors and improve the value of your home.
1. Change your AC filter.
Air-conditioning systems are always working to give your home that perfect temperature all year round. If you have an AC filter on your system, make sure that it is changed every three months.
The air inside your home can greatly affect your health and well-being. If you have a furnace or an air conditioner, it is important to keep them running at their peak efficiency. In this blog post we will outline the top ten steps which will help you boost the quality of the air indoors and improve the value of your home:
Change your AC filter (Air conditioning systems are always working to give your home that perfect temperature all year round) – Every three months!
2. Don’t forget about other air filters.
Your AC filter isn’t the only thing working to keep the air clean in your home environment. There are also furnace filters which should be changed every three months to keep dust and particles from building up.
Clean your dryer’s lint trap (A $0.50 investment that could save you a lot of time, energy, and money in the long run) – Once per month!
Air coolers can save on space, but they don’t always have as powerful an impact as air conditioners or fans do: Air Coolers vs AC Units
Clear out any vents/ducts near appliances such as vacuum cleaners, microwaves, and dishwashers every few years for safety. This simple step will help remove smells, old food, oils, smoke etc.
3. Check your air ducts.
Air ducts are responsible for distributing hot and cold air throughout your home, providing a comfortable climate in every room.
The air ducts are often subject to a lot of wear and tear because they are exposed to the dust particles, dirt, pet dander.
Duct cleaning is about $300-500 for an average house but could be as high as $1200-$1500 if your vents are located in a crawl space or attic.
A dirty air system can lead to low energy efficiency and increased utility bills.
To prevent these issues from happening it is worth considering having your home HVAC cleaned on a yearly basis (usually recommended by most professionals)
If you need more information, check out our blog post: Do I really need my AC ducts cleaned?
4. Use cooking vents.
Many indoor air pollutants come from the kitchen.
Oftentimes, people don’t think about what is coming out of the kitchen range and oven as pollutants.
Cooking fumes are made up of nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide and other particulates that can circulate inside your home.
Engaging an exhaust fan or installing a hood over cooking appliances will help limit pollutant emissions from these sources.
This also applies to clothes dryers- make sure you install vents away from windows (to prevent drafts) with enough space underneath for air circulation.
5. Keep your rugs and carpets clean.
Rugs and carpets do more than increase the comfort of your home. They act as their own air filters, trapping dust and other particles.
Set up a routine to vacuum regularly and sweep outside the house or apartment.
When you’re looking for an HVAC system, it’s important to make sure that the filter is in place before purchasing your new unit.
If filters are expensive for whatever reason, purchase reusable ones- they can be cleaned easily enough with soap and water when needed.
Modify your existing windows by installing storm windows during winter months and turning on your air conditioning in summer months will help regulate airflow within your home.
This also keeps out unwanted allergens like pollen from entering through open doors as well as decreasing energy costs throughout the year because of improved insulation.
Doing these simple steps consistently means cleaner air inside of your home.
6. Control humidity in your home.
Humid and moist conditions breed mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues like allergies and asthma. Ide, for example, is the compound in smoke from a fire and car exhaust that can cause headaches and nausea.
If your air vents are not cleaned regularly, you could also be breathing airborne allergens like pollen or dust mites as well as other nasties like animal dander. Keeping it simple by opening windows to let fresh air in will only do so much without venting out unwanted pollutants.
Remember to change filters on any heating appliances you may have inside of your home including furnaces or space heaters- these should all be changed monthly during winter months when they are most often used. This improves airflow through the system allowing more even distribution with less chance of backdrafts which produce carbon monoxide gas (CO).
7. Buy indoor plants to freshen the air.
Plants are nature’s natural air filters. Buying a few indoor plants can do wonders to improve the indoor air quality in your home, while enhancing your home décor.
A few plants that can be used to freshen air inside your home include English Ivy, Spider Plant, Dracaena, Peace Lily and Bamboo Palm. If you are interested in buying an indoor plant but don’t know which one is best for the environment of your home or how they grow indoors check out this list!
Common air pollutants.
Air pollutants can range from contaminants brought in from the outdoors by your pets to dangerous gas leaks. Carbon monoxide is a common air pollutant resulting from natural gas that escapes into your home without being burned off. Older homes may contain asbestos and lead particles, which can be damaging to the lungs when released into the air. In bathrooms and kitchens, mold and mildew can become a nuisance where moisture levels are typically higher than in the rest of your house.
How do you improve air quality in HVAC?
The following are 7 ways that HVAC technology can help.
1. Combat indoor air pollution with air purification technology.
2. Prevent indoor air pollution with good ventilation design.
3. Use VRF for humidity (and temperature) control.
4. Consider increasing filtration.
5. Clean the ductwork to reduce indoor air pollution.
What is the best way to improve air quality?
Source Control. Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions.
How to Test The Air Quality in Your Home
1. Purchase an indoor air quality monitor.
2. Test for mold in the air.
3. Install carbon monoxide alarms.
4. Conduct a radon test.
Does staying inside help air quality?
Although ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, and other gases infiltrate indoors from outdoors, concentrations are generally lower indoors compared to outdoors, and spending time indoors generally reduces exposure to ambient air pollutants.
What symptoms are often linked to poor indoor air quality?
· Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
· Headache.
· Fatigue.
· Shortness of breath.
· Hypersensitivity and allergies.
· Sinus congestion.
· Coughing and sneezing.
· Dizziness.
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